ASA or ABS? ASA handles sun and weather, ABS is stronger

Short answer

Will the part sit outside in sun and rain? Choose ASA. Will it be indoors and you want to save a little? Then ABS is enough. Both want a heated bed and preferably an enclosed printer.

ASA or ABS: the short answer

ASA and ABS are closely related and behave almost the same in the printer. The big difference is that ASA withstands UV and weather much better. If the part will be outdoors, ASA is the obvious choice, while ABS does the same job indoors and is usually a little cheaper.

ASA

Weather- & UV-resistant

Acrylic styrene acrylonitrile

Best for: Outdoor parts, signs & parts in the sun

Very good UV and weather resistance
Keeps its colour and shape outdoors
Strong and impact-resistant
Handles heat well

ABS

Tough & good value

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Best for: Indoor parts, housings & mechanical parts

Very impact-resistant and tough
Withstands high temperatures
Can be sanded and post-processed
Often slightly cheaper

Rule of thumb: Will the part sit outside in sun and rain? Choose ASA. Will it be indoors and you want to save a little? Then ABS is enough. Both want a heated bed and preferably an enclosed printer.

The two at a glance

ASA — weather- & UV-resistant. Best for outdoor parts, signs and parts in the sun: very good UV and weather resistance, keeps its colour and shape outdoors, strong and impact-resistant, handles heat well.

ABS — tough & good value. Best for indoor parts, housings and mechanical parts: very impact-resistant and tough, withstands high temperatures, can be sanded and finished, often slightly cheaper.

Properties compared

The table summarises the key figures from our data sheets. The materials are very similar; the deciding difference is ASA's weather and UV resistance.

Nozzle temperature (ASA / ABS) 230–265 °C / 230–260 °C

Bed temperature (ASA / ABS) 90–110 °C / 90–110 °C

Tensile strength (ASA / ABS) 47.1 MPa / 60 MPa

Elongation at break (ASA / ABS) 25 % / 34 %

UV & weather resistance Very good / Poorer

Heat resistance High / High

Ease of printing More demanding / More demanding

Enclosure Recommended / Recommended

The differences in practice

This is the whole point of ASA. The material resists UV light and weather considerably better than ABS, which fades and can crack under long-term sun exposure. If the part will be outside all year round, for example a sign, a holder or a detail on a car, ASA keeps both its colour and its strength season after season. ABS does fine indoors but is not built for the sun.

In the printer they behave almost the same. Both shrink as they cool and can warp, so both do best in an enclosed print chamber with a heated bed. According to our data sheets, ASA prints at 230–265 °C and ABS at 230–260 °C, and both want a bed at 90–110 °C. In strength ABS is slightly ahead: higher tensile strength (60 vs 47.1 MPa) and higher elongation at break (34 vs 25 percent). For most parts the difference in strength is small, and the choice comes down to whether the part will be outdoors or not. If you want to read more about each one, we have separate guides on ASA and ABS.

Which should you choose?

If the part needs neither to be outdoors nor to withstand extreme heat, and you want an easier print, PETG is often a smoother alternative to both. Otherwise you will find our ASA filament and ABS filament in many colours at low prices per kilo.

→ Choose ASA

When the part will be outdoors and has to withstand sun, rain and temperature swings without fading or weakening. Signs, holders, brackets and vehicle parts.

→ Choose ABS

When the part will be indoors and you want to save a little. Housings, mechanical parts and prototypes that are not exposed to sun and weather.

Frequently asked questions about ASA and ABS

What is the difference between ASA and ABS?

They are closely related, with similar strength and heat resistance, and print almost the same way. The deciding difference is that ASA has much better UV and weather resistance, which makes it the better choice for outdoor parts.

Is ASA stronger than ABS?

Roughly equal. ABS is slightly ahead in both tensile strength (60 vs 47.1 MPa according to our data sheets) and elongation at break (34 vs 25 %). For most parts the difference is small; it is weather resistance that sets them apart.

Can I print ASA on the same printer as ABS?

Yes. They print at almost the same temperatures and have the same need for a heated bed and preferably an enclosure. If your printer can handle ABS, it can usually handle ASA too.

Is ASA worth the extra over ABS?

For outdoor use, absolutely. There ABS fades and cracks over time while ASA holds up. For purely indoor parts, ABS does the same job and can be a little cheaper.